The move is devious, brash and cunning. It requires high skill and loads of confidence. It is irritating. It approaches the limits of legality. It invades an opponent’s personal space.

Naturally, Brad Marchand does it better than just about everybody else.

The maneuver is one that Marchand executed on two-time Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, of all players, in the Bruins’ 4-1 win over San Jose on Feb. 26. While attacking Karlsson on a one-on-one shorthanded rush, Marchand batted the defenseman’s stick out of his way as he moved the puck from forehand to backhand.

Once he rendered Karlsson’s stick useless, Marchand slalomed around his defender, reeled in the puck and threw another set of dekes on Martin Jones before tucking in a backhander five-hole. Marchand may not have given himself as many options had he not swatted Karlsson’s stick aside.

“I’m just trying to get his stick out of the way,” Marchand said. “A lot of times,...